What speed setting when machine polishing
Written by: Vinnie van Rooij
Different jobs require a different speed setting on your polish machine. Although they can differ slightly per machine, the settings are fairly general per action. Knowing the right speed setting can make the difference between half results, and proper results.
Please note that this guide does not apply to 100% of the products on the market. Although this could be used as a guideline or a place to start, nothing beats craftsmanship, knowledge and experience. There might be products that need to be worked differently.
Contents
For polishing
High speed – 5000 rpm / 7000 rpm
- When the polish is spread out over the panel
- To really work the polish in, let the particles break down properly
- When polishing glass, this need some extra power to actually get any results
Medium speed – 3500 rpm / 5000 rpm
- When you are still spreading the polish equally over the panel
- When you polish around sharp angles, delicate surfaces or fresh paint
- When you are almost down, turn down the speed and turn the machine off. Only lift it off the panel after it has stopped completely
- If you’ve used to much polish and the drops are flying around
- When polishing plastic, you need to start out slow/medium to work the polish in, only turn it up to high after you are close to done
Low speed – 1500 rpm / 3500 rpm
- When you just applied new polish to the pad
- When you are jewelling (very slowly working the finishing polish in)
- When you are working around very sensitive areas
- When polishing very soft plastic
For using a Glaze
High speed – 5000 rpm / 7000 rpm
- Only turn it up to high if the Glaze is giving you problems, stay oily to long or if the paint is very hard
Medium speed – 3500 rpm / 5000 rpm
- When the product has been spread, turn it up to medium and really work the product in
Low speed – 1500 rpm / 3500 rpm
- Start out very slow to spread the product evenly
- Finish in low setting to jewel the last layer of Glaze before buffing off
For waxing
High speed – 5000 rpm / 7000 rpm
- Don’t use a high speed setting, this will just fling the wax around, the added heat won’t make it perform better anyway
Medium speed – 3500 rpm / 5000 rpm
- Turning it up a bit will generate heat, which will help the wax to be worked in more easily
Low speed – 1500 rpm / 3500 rpm
- Spread the product on a very low setting
- Finish off in low setting to get a very glossy shine on the last few passes
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